[harmon rabb]

I want a quality samurai sword. I don't care if it's made by traditional techniques. Quality new steel is good for me.

Ideas?

[zoom6zoom]

Start here:
http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/

[Phantom Captain]

What is your budget range? Are you looking for one good katana or a daisho thereby splitting the budget between swords?

Many options out there depending on what you want to spend.

[hso]

"quality" takes on different meanings depending upon what you want to do with the sword and what you can afford to spend. It isn't an meaningful catchall if your budget doesn't go above $1,000.

BTW, do you mean tachi, wakizashi or katana? "Samurai sword" doesn't have a lot of meaning since samurai used a variety of swords. Kinda like asking for an "army gun" or "cowboy gun".

[alaskanativeson]

Also, what do you want to do with it? Is it for show? Is it for cutting tatami or other test materials? Is it for personal defense? While you don't care about traditional techniques, is traditional appearance and finish important?

[zignal_zero]

I agree with everyonelse - need a lot more details on what u want it to do, look like, and what kinda numbers u can stomach.

How ever, yer broad statement leads me to assume you are not concerned with details much and need a weapon. If yer needs are similar to mine, you would be well served with either a Swamp Rat Rodent Waki or a custom short sword built by Justin Gingrich of Ranger Knives. Neither would really be called a "Samurai sword" but if I had to get serious about breaking things and hurting folks, its what I'd grab :)

[greyling22]

how about a hanwei practical katana? http://www.casiberia.com/prod_Detail.aspx?id=SH1070

I think it's about as cheap as you can go and still get a functional blade. but you may want something nicer. I dunno. I bought one as a wall hanger when I had the sword itch. I just couldn't buy a non-functional sword. stupid I know. :)

[BoltActionPrepper]

cold steel katana is about the cheapest quality sword you can buy....still expect to pay about 700 bucks for one.....in my expereance cold steel makes some of the best cutlery on earth....all their swords myst pass the british proof test.

[hso]

Sorry, but CS katanas are heavy and just don't have the balance of Cas, Chenese or the other entry level katanas. As you handle more katanas from different manufacturers and makers you'll see that while good can be had from CS, CH and others, "impressive" changes when you get your hands on better.

The aforementioned sword buyers guide is a fun place to start learning the value in different products. http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/authentic-japanese-swords.html

[alaskanativeson]

I would have to agree with hso. While Cold Steel does make some good quality stuff, and some okay quality stuff (and very little I would class in the great quality category, though there are a few) most of their swords only fit into the okay category. I'd be willing to put my $200 Paul Chen 9260 steel differentially heat treated Ko Katana (http://www.chenessinc.com/kazekokat.htm) against any of the Cold Steel swords and wager that I'd come out ahead with a better sword and a much lower price.

I'm not a CS detractor. Although the one time I met Lynn Thompsosn he did come across as a totally officious ass, I still admire quite a few of his products. I own many of them. However, they are what they are: Mid to upper mid quality tools presented by a company that REALLY knows how to market. Love or hate them, you have to admit they've been successful. I can't recommend the swords, though, unless they're the only choice available.

[hso]

Since the OP hasn't been back I'll refer him to the following and he can decide what "quality" and value he wants.

Michael Bell - Dragonfly Forge http://dragonflyforge.com/2010/08/13/cable-shirogatana-%E2%80%9Ccastle-sword%E2%80%9D-by-michael-bell-for-sale/

Wally Hayes - Hayes Knives http://www.hayesknives.com/japan.html

Howard Clark - MV Forge http://mvforge.com/BE%27sA.html

Bugei Trading Company - http://www.bugei.com/

Cas Hanwei - http://www.casiberia.com/category.aspx?cat1=Japanese&cat2=Swords&name=Katana

Kris Cutlery - http://kriscutlery.com/documents/japanese.html

Cheness - http://www.chenessinc.com/

Trueswords - http://www.trueswords.com/swords-japanese-katana-c-4_46.html (stick to the >$100 swords and try not to buy anything called a "samurari sword" instead of a katana)

[zoom6zoom]

I purchased a Ryumon katana from True Swords a few years ago. Very happy with the product, and their customer service was excellent.

[MrAcheson]

I have a $80 musashi bamboo warrior katana. Handling is amazing, build quality is decent especially for the price. But it's a light cutter meaning don't try to actually cut green bamboo with it. Tatami, bottles, and pool noodles only.

Honestly the standard setter on inexpensive katana is the stuff from Hanwei. Their practical katana line offers a lot for very reasonable prices.

[THowie]

Anyone want to post pics of their samurai swords? I don't have any of my own (yet!), but love the look of them.

[Phantom Captain]

I posted some of mine (Paul Chen Shinto models) in the "Samurai swords don't run out of bullets" thread. I have a few others I didn't post including a Musashi folded katana and a ko-katana.

I also have a hanwei naginata that is just plain cool too.

[hso]

Anyone want to post pics of their samurai swords?

Bad form to divert someone's thread so let's keep the pics in the other thread and focus on helping the OP.

[Sheepdog1968]

Paul Chen is what people in my dojo like.